Seal



pll 7. 1931- T. M. PRUDDEN 1,799,701

S EAL Filed Dec. l5, 1928 Patented Apr. 7, 191'31 THEODORE MITCII'ELL PRUDDEN, OF HINGHAM CENTER, MASSACHUSETTS i SEAL i Application filed VBeceinlzer 15, 1928. ,Serial No. 326,184.

My present invention relates to the sealing l f fasteners, such for example as the attaching strings or threads of tags, envelopes, packages or other articleswheie it is` desired to prevent the unauthorized removal or substitution of the same without certainty of detection. 'Y

An important and characteristic instance lies in the tagging or ticketing of merchandise, particularly where the sameis sent out for approval. The prac-tice of inter-changing `the tags on higher and lower priced merchandise has long been recognized as one of the bases of losses in stores and the ease with o which such changes have heretofore been made and the difliculty of detection have encouraged those inclined to such practices until the losses in most large stores mount up to a very serious figure.

The difficulty has been to provide some .imple and effective means `of securing the ordinary device used and which would not be in themselves capable of duplication on any such basis as would allow the culprit to cover his tracks.

Without eiiuiiierating all of the vaiious factors involved in these difficulties, I may state t iat my concept generally is that of providing for the user a special sealing device of such characteristics as to make it difficult of counterfeit and of such material that it would withstand the ordinary rough usage in handling the goods and yet be suflicieiitly delicate to make any tampering immediately obvioiis.

As illustrative of my invention I have shown and will describe aform of seal which has been found well adapted to ordinary mer'- chandising conditions and which can be pro- 4f; duced at a low cost and which otherwise seems to fill all the present known requirements of such a device. Throughout the specification and drawings like reference characters are employed to indicate corresponding parts, is and in the drawings:

Fig. l is a general view showing a device iii accordance with my invention in useas a ticket seal. y Y

Fig. 2 is a view of an unsealed envelope in s.; accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 3 Va view of the same sealed. Fig. a fragmentary view of a strip of such devices,

Fig. 5

and

view of one of these devices detached and folded ready for use, ig

The use indicated in Fig. l which is selected as characteristic of inany shows a price tag or ticket T attached by a string S to a garment G having one of my seals covering the knot.

VThe seals as indicated in Fig. l are furnished to the merchant in strips and comprise what may be termed a back tab l and a front tab which is made up ofthe portion l1 which is integral with l anda portion. 2 which underlies the portion 11 which is shorter than l and extends beyond asbest seen in Fig. l.

In Figs. e and 5, the individual seal is shown as separated from the strip and folded ready for use.

The portions land l1 are preferably of some quite tough material, as for example, fabric, and the inner faces of lrand l1 as indicated at l are coated with a strong adhesive.

very satisfactory material for this purpose may be made resembling surgeons plaster;

that is Vtosay, a fabric coated with a rubber adhesive The portion 2 .is made of a deflnitely more delicate material and for this purpose I use or other thin a paper and preferably a tissue paper. As an additional precaution I preferably use a paper with sonic marked physical characteristic which will be easily destroyed if the paper istampered with,

Fig. 4.

Vas for example, a crepe paper as indicated in As an additional factor I also make the edge of the strip 2 serrated as at 21.

.Tl is seal in"` place the-paper.

@saisieissie uit abi-i@ ma lVhen such a seal is placed over a knot as indicated in Fig, l and the parts pressed together, the knot is strongly held between the portions l1 and l of the fabric and the crepe paper portion Q1 is firmly cemented to that portion of l which it overlies.

Such a seal therefore covers the knot so that it cannot be untied or manipulated, being protected by the strong fabric of the seal. The crepe paper affords the telltale factor and prevents the pulling apart of llL and l to uncover the knot. Furthermore, it Will be observed that in addition to these mechanical functions these parts afford a basis of combination which prevents counterfeiting special materials can be used and when put together in combinations, it would be extremely difficult to duplicate by the ordinary person.

The strip as shown in Fig. 4 is provided with. a cover piece et. This may be of any material which is not readily adherent to the sticking coating l, as for example a glassine paper which can be easily pulled off when the tag is .separated and ready for use.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a seal in accordance with my invention applied to an envelope E having its flap and body slotted as at e to permit the passage of the seal, I refer to the envelope merely as characteristic of a great variety of containers, wrappers or other enclosing devices to which my seals may be applied. As shown in F igs. 2 and 3 the seal is simply passed through convenient slits such as c and overfoldcd upon itself as shown in Fig. 3 thereby effecting a tamper proof closure for safe guarding the contents, These uses are merely offered as indicative of the lield of the invention and are not intended to be in any wise limiting. It is also to be understood that my seals are not only capable of a Wide range of variation in mechanical make up but in practice are made in a great variety of designs, so that each individual user may have his own characteristic seal. Furthermore, the seals of individual users are varied from time to time to avoid counterfeiting. It Will therefore be understood that the form shown in the drawing is purely illustrative although representing a convenient and practical type and that regardless of appearance all such seals embodying the principles of my invention are to me understood as Within the concept herein set forth.

lVhat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a relatively strong base member, a cover member of fragile material adhesively secured to one portion thereof, and interlocked by a tab thereto, and adapted to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

2. A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a cover member of fragile material adhesively secured to one portion thereof,

and adapted to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

3. A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a relatively strong base member, a cover member of fragile material adhesively secured to one portion thereof, and adapt ed to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

4. A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a base member, a cov-er member of creped paper adhesively secured to one portion thereof, and adapted to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a relatively strong base member, a cover member of creped paper adhesively secured to one portion thereof` and inter-locked therewith, and adapted to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

tl. A seal comprising a foldable tab comprising a base member, a cover member of relatively fragile material secured to one portion thereof, and interlocked by a tab thereto, and adapted to be folded upon and adhesively sealed to the other part of the seal.

7. A seal comprising a foldable tab consisting of a base member having' an adhesive coating and a cover member of fragile or distortable material adapted to be sealed thereto` 8. A seal comprising a foldable tab consisting of a base member and a cover member of relatively delicate material adapted to be sealed thereto in inclusive relation to the article sealed.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

THEODORE MITCHELL PRUDDEN. 

